Chapter 148: Scam

Pei Ji didn't let her get up.

"Look up and answer. What's your name? How long have you been serving Miss Luo?"

"Your maidservant... Your maidservant's name is Xiaohuan," the little maidservant raised her head while sobbing, not daring to look directly into Pei Ji's eyes, "I have been serving the young lady... for five years..."

"Five years, I'm considered a confidant." Pei Ji's fingers tapped lightly on the table. "This afternoon, was this the last time you saw Miss Luo?"

"Yes..." Xiaohuan nodded quickly. "The young lady said she was a little tired and wanted to rest for a while, and didn't want me to disturb her. I waited outside... Later, when it was time for dinner, I went in to call the young lady, and found the room in a mess. She was gone... and the window was broken..."

As she spoke, she started crying again.

"Oh?" Pei Ji raised his eyebrows. "You said you were waiting outside. During that time, did you hear any unusual noises from inside? Like fighting? Or cries for help?"

Xiaohuan paused in her crying, her eyes flickered for a moment, and then she said hurriedly, "No... I didn't hear anything... Maybe the rain was too loud..."

"The rain is so loud?" Xie Wuqi couldn't help but interrupt. He walked up to her with a smile and squatted down. "Little girl, it's not good to lie. It's not like I haven't been to your lady's boudoir before. The soundproofing there is very good!

You can hear the sound of rain outside, but you can't hear anything about the fight inside? Unless, you weren't guarding outside at all, or... the fight was only introduced later!"

Xiao Huan was frightened by him and shuddered violently. Her face turned even paler and she shook her head repeatedly: "No! I didn't lie. I was watching the whole time! Maybe I accidentally dozed off... Yes, I accidentally fell asleep! That's why I didn't hear it!"

"Fell asleep?" Pei Ji's voice turned a little colder. "The master is resting inside, but your maid on duty fell asleep outside? When did the rules of the Luo Mansion become so lax?"

Xiaohuan was speechless after hearing his question and her body trembled even more violently.

Pei Ji stood up and slowly walked in front of her, looking down at her: "Xiao Huan, I'll ask you one more question. When you last saw Miss Luo, was there anything unusual about her? Did she say anything special to you? Or did she give you something?"

His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if they could penetrate people's hearts.

Under his gaze, Xiaohuan's eyes dodged around in panic, her lips trembled, and she seemed to be engaged in a fierce psychological struggle.

Xie Wuqi was so anxious watching from the side that he wanted to speak for her.

Just when Xiaohuan was about to give up, she heard hurried footsteps outside. A guard hurried to the door of the interrogation room, not even bothering to salute, and said urgently, "Sir! This is bad! Someone from the Luo Mansion has sent a message saying that one of Miss Luo's embroidered shoes was found in the lotus pond in their back garden!"

"What?!" Xie Wuqi stood up straight suddenly.

When Xiaohuan heard this, she seemed to have lost all her strength. She collapsed to the ground and murmured, "No... Miss won't..."

Pei Ji's pupils suddenly shrank, but he quickly calmed down and stared at the guard: "Are you sure these are Miss Luo's shoes?"

"The people in the Luo Mansion said that... and there were traces of sliding on the muddy ground beside the lotus pond..." The guard's voice was trembling.

There were just some clues just now, and now more evidence has been discovered in the blink of an eye?

This case is so full of twists and turns and so confusing!

Xie Wuqi was completely confused and looked at Pei Ji.

Pei Ji's expression flickered in the dim light, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly bent down and pulled up Xiaohuan, who was lying limp on the ground, in a voice so cold it could break ice:

"Lead the way to the lotus pond. You," he stared into Xiaohuan's frightened eyes, "better think carefully about what else you have left to say."

After saying that, he let go of the small ring and walked out with big strides.

Xie Wuqi looked at Pei Ji's resolute back, then at Xiao Huan, who was paralyzed by fear on the ground. He had only one thought in his mind:

This case is getting more and more bizarre! Luo Zhaohan, are you dead or alive? What's going on here?

He didn't dare to neglect it and quickly chased after him. He was determined to watch the excitement!

It was as if Xie Wuqi's feet were equipped with Hot Wheels, and he was whizzing after Pei Ji's back, which was almost frozen into ice.

He was muttering in his heart: Pei Ji is usually like a stone statue in the temple, with nothing to do with him, and his emotions are as deep as the trench. Today, the sun is really rising from the west, and the flames in his eyes are about to burst out and burn down the house!

"Hey! Master Pei! Pei Ji! Wait for me!" Xie Wuqi chased after him and shouted, "Can you please tell me what's going on? I feel like I'm being scratched by a cat!"

Pei Ji ignored him completely and took big and quick steps. The wind raised by the corners of his clothes revealed a murderous aura.

He rushed straight out of the mansion. When the guards guarding the door saw their master's face, they were so scared that they didn't dare to fart and quickly opened the door.

Xie Wuqi followed him out happily, his mouth still busy: "Did you find out something? Is Miss Luo really not dead? Who is that person in the room? It can't be a ghost, right? In broad daylight..."

As he spoke, he subconsciously looked up at the sky, as if he was really afraid of something unclean. Pei Ji suddenly stopped and turned his head. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, and he glared at Xie Wuqi fiercely.

Xie Wuqi shuddered at his gaze and immediately raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I won't ask, I won't ask, okay! You go ahead and I'll follow behind, absolutely not disturbing you! This lively... oh no, this case, I can help you keep an eye on it, okay?"

Pei Ji then withdrew his murderous gaze, turned around without saying a word, and continued walking forward quickly.

The direction was not back to Dali Temple, but towards the west of the city.

Xie Wuqi was even more puzzled now. Most of the people living in the west of the city were common people or minor officials who were not very powerful. Why would Pei Ji, a big Buddha, go there?

He was extremely curious, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He had to hold it in, and his eyes rolled around as he looked around.

The two walked in silence, one in front and one behind, through the streets and alleys. Pei Ji walked so fast that Xie Wuqi had to jog to keep up with him. He complained in his heart: This old man Pei, I have never seen him so agile before, he must be in a hurry!

As we walked, the surrounding scenery gradually changed.

There were fewer tall gates and courtyards, and more low houses with gray walls. The streets were also narrower, and there were some small vendors on the roadside. Seeing these two people with obviously extraordinary clothes and demeanor, especially the one in front with a face so cold that it could freeze people to death, they all avoided them and looked at them secretly with curiosity.

Pei Ji was completely unaware of the gazes around him. His goal was very clear. He turned into a narrower alley and finally stopped in front of a black lacquered wooden door.

This door looks quite old. The paint on the door panel is a bit mottled and the door knocker is also rusty.

Compared with the Luo family’s luxurious gates and high walls, this place is simply shabby.

Xie Wuqi was wondering in his heart: What does Pei Ji's fiancée, the eldest daughter of the Luo family, have to do with this place?

Could it be... a hidden beauty in a golden house? That's not right. Pei Ji has a rock-hard personality. Hiding a beauty? Hiding a real rock is more like hiding a beauty!

Pei Ji stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, his chest heaving slightly, as if he was making some kind of decision.

He raised his hand, but did not knock on the door immediately. His bony hand actually trembled slightly.

Xie Wuqi's eyes were wide open. Wow, today was really an eye-opener. Pei Ji could actually be nervous?

Just when Xie Wuqi thought Pei Ji would keep plotting until dark, he finally raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock." The sound was particularly clear in the quiet alley.

There was no movement inside for a long time.

Pei Ji frowned even more tightly and knocked again, this time with a little more force.

After a while, I heard the sound of footsteps coming from inside, followed by a woman's cautious voice with a hint of vigilance: "Who is it?"

The sound was unfamiliar, yet it felt familiar to him. Xie Wuqi pricked up his ears.

Pei Ji's Adam's apple rolled, and his voice lowered a little: "It's me, Pei Ji."

Suddenly, no sound fell from inside, even the sound of breathing seemed to be held. A deathly silence spread.

Xie Wuqi thought to himself: Well, it seems like they are not welcome.

After a long while, just when Pei Ji seemed to be about to lose his patience and was about to speak again or do something, there was a slight "creak" sound from inside the door and the bolt was pulled open.

The black lacquered wooden door opened a crack, revealing a face.

She was a woman who looked to be in her thirties, wearing a straw hat and a cloth skirt. Her face was haggard, but there was still some delicate features between her eyebrows and eyes.

When she saw Pei Ji outside the door, her face turned pale instantly, and her hands gripped the door tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Master Pei..." Her voice was trembling, "How did you find yourself here?"

Pei Ji's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, staring at her intently. He didn't answer her question at all, but asked directly in a deep voice: "Where is she?"

The woman's body trembled, her eyes flickered, and she subconsciously wanted to shrink back: "Who is it? Master Pei, have you come to the wrong place? We are from a poor family..."

"Madame Lin!" Pei Ji interrupted her abruptly, his voice carrying a sense of pressure. "An elder of the Luo family, Luo Zhaohan's wet nurse! You left the Luo Mansion three years ago for some reason. Don't tell me you've forgotten your old master!"

Xie Wuqi slapped his thigh! That’s right!

He said she looked familiar but couldn't remember who she was! This woman was Luo Zhaohan's wet nurse!

When Luo Zhaohan was a child, he seemed to have met this nanny a few times! Later, it seemed that she said something happened at home and she quit her job. Why did she live here? Pei Ji came to find her...

Could it be that Luo Zhaohan’s “death” has something to do with her?

Nanny Lin was so frightened when Pei Ji revealed her identity that her legs went limp and she almost collapsed on the ground. Her face turned as pale as paper, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a word.

Pei Ji lost his patience, pushed the door open and walked straight in.

Nanny Lin cried out "Ah!" She wanted to stop him but didn't dare to, so she could only retreat helplessly.

Xie Wuqi quickly squeezed in and closed the door behind him.

The yard is very small and you can see the end at a glance. It is clean, but there is a sense of poverty everywhere.

Pei Ji stood in the middle of the yard, his eyes like lightning, scanning the closed doors. His voice was so cold that ice chips could fall off: "Where is she? I know she is here. Let her come out to see me!"

Nanny Lin was almost crying. She fell to her knees and kowtowed, saying, "Master Pei! Master Pei, please be kind! Spare us! The young lady is really gone! The one lying in the coffin is..."

"Bullshit!" Pei Ji suddenly cursed, not only scaring Nanny Lin silly, but also Xie Wuqi so much that his jaw almost dropped.

Pei Ji! Dali Temple Minister Pei Ji! You actually swore!

Pei Ji's chest was heaving violently, and it was clear that his emotions had reached a critical point. He pointed at the courtyard and said sternly, "We both know who is in that coffin! If I hadn't confirmed certain things, how could I have found this place!

"Mrs. Lin, look carefully! I am Pei Ji! Not those idiots from the Luo family who can be easily deceived by you! And certainly not the fiancé you can manipulate at will!"

He approached the kneeling Nanny Lin step by step, looking down at her from above. His aura of long-held superiority was so oppressive that it made her breathless. "Tell me, where is Luo Zhaohan? What on earth does she want to do?"

Nanny Lin was trembling with fear under the pressure of his aura, tears streaming down her face. She just kept kowtowing: "You can't tell, Master Pei... If you tell, the young lady will die... I beg you, just treat the young lady as if she is really dead..."

"Not gonna survive?" Pei Ji caught the word and his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Who wants her life? The Luo family? Or someone else?"

Xie Wuqi also understood what was going on. This was not just a simple case of escaping from marriage or faking death. There was obviously a bigger secret behind this, and it might even be fatal!

He immediately stopped wanting to watch the fun and became serious.

At this moment, the door of the east wing room creaked open.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over.

I saw a woman in a plain coarse cloth dress slowly walking out.

She had a slender figure and a face so pale that it was almost transparent. Her black hair was casually tied behind her head. She wore no makeup, but one could still see the stunning outlines of her eyebrows and eyes. Who else could it be but Luo Zhaohan!

But the Luo Zhaohan before him had lost the noble air of the Luo family's eldest daughter. A thick, unwavering sadness shrouded her brow. She stood there like an orchid ravaged by wind and rain, fragile yet possessing a kind of proud resilience.

Pei Ji froze. Although he had guessed it, the shock of seeing her standing before him was so overwhelming that he was speechless. He just stared at her intently, as if he wanted to carve her figure into his pupils.

Xie Wuqi gasped, almost screaming, and quickly covered his mouth. Oh my god! It's really Luo Zhaohan! She's not dead! How did this trick work?

Luo Zhaohan's eyes slowly passed over Nanny Lin, who was kneeling and crying, and finally landed on Pei Ji. Her eyes were extremely complicated, with guilt, pain, and a hint of joy.

"Pei Ji, please don't make things difficult for Mammy. I forced her to keep it a secret for me. This was all my idea."

Pei Ji finally recovered from his great shock. He looked at her, thousands of words stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into a low growl: "Why? Luo Zhaohan! Tell me why this is happening? Do you know that I..."

God knows how he felt when he thought she was really dead and when he saw the coffin!

That was like frying in a frying pan! And now telling him that it was all a scam? A trick?